I stopped in front of the receptionist.
She straightened immediately, clearly scared and surprised.
"The woman who just left," I said, voice even. " What was she here for?"
She blinked, hands fluttering over her keyboard. "Oh_ yes. She delivered a proposal. From Mr. Blake's company.
My jaw tightened.
Sienna.
Working for her father.
I glanced at the time. We were already late.
But I didn't move.
"Did she speak to anyone else?" I asked.
"No, sir. Just me and Mr. Easton. She handed him the file and left."
I gave a curt nod. "Thank you."
Then I turned and walked toward the exit like nothing happened.
But everything had.
Because now I knew she hadn't just appeared last night.
She was here.
In my world.
And she wasn't going anywhere.
Sienna Pov
I kicked off my heels the second I stepped into my apartment and flopped onto the couch like I'd just survived a war.
Because in a way, I had.
The file was delivered. I hadn't seen Damian. Hadn't even heard his voice. That was all I needed.
Victory.
I pulled out my phone and shot off a quick text to my Dad.
Delivered the proposal. All done.
I tossed the phone aside, curled up with a blanket, and tried to pretend the pounding in my chest was just leftover nerves. That maybe, just maybe, I could put this whole awkward favor behind me.
Hours passed.
I'd almost forgotten the tension of the day by the time my phone rang.
Dad.
I smiled and answered. " Hey, Dad."
But the tone in his voice stopped me cold.
"Sienna," he began, carefully. "Sweetheart, I just got a call from Damson company."
My breath hitched.
"Okay..."
"They looked over the proposal," he continued. "And they're.... interested. But there's a condition."
I sat up. "What kind of condition?"
"They said_ he hesitated, then sighed. "They'll only move forward if you act as my company's liaison. Specifically, they want you to assist on the proposal from our side."
My heart stopped.
"What?"
"I asked if they spoke with you today _ if anything went wrong, if you said something _ but the receptionist said no. And you say you didn't meet Damian?"
"I didn't!" I shot back, heat rising in my chest. "I dropped the file and left. That's it."
"I believe you", he said quickly. "I do. I just.....I don't know why they asked for you specifically. Damian's name wasn't even mentioned. It came from their corporate office."
I sat there, stunned.
"It's probably just business," he said gently. "They must have been impressed with how you handled the handoff or your credentials. I don't know. But....the board is waiting. My team. Everyone. This deal _ it means a lot to the company."
"So now it's all on me?" I whispered.
"I won't ask if it wasn't important, sweetheart," he said, voice thick." Please. Just say yes. You don't have to like it. You just have to .....do it."
I closed my eyes.
Of all companies in New York.
Of all the men in suits.
It had to be his.
I sat there in silence, my father's word still echoing.
"I'll think about it," I mumbled and ended the call.
My phone slipped from my hands, landing softly beside me.
I stared at the celling, jaw clenched.
That bastard.
He did this.
It had his fingerprints all over it_ quite, manipulative control wrapped in a perfectly professional demand.
He knew I was the one who dropped off the proposal.
He saw me .
He didn't speak.
He didn't reach out.
He just... twisted the knife the way only Damian Hart knew how.
My hand trembled as I picked up my phone again.
I had deleted his number years ago.
Blocked it. Erased it. Purged every trace of him from my life.
But that was just the phone.
Not on my head.
Even after six years, I remembered those numbers like a curse etched into my bone.
I hesitated....then dialed.
It rang once.
Twice.
And then_
"Hello?"
My throat tightened.
But the words came tumbling out before I could stop them.
"What else do you want from me?" I snapped, voice shaking. "Haven't you broken me enough? You left me with nothing, Damian. You lied, you cheated, and now what_ you want to drag me back just to humiliate me again?"
There was a pause on the line.
"I_"
I didn't let him finish.
"You don't get to talk. You don't get to pretend this is just business. You saw me today. I know you did."
Another silence.
Tighter. Heavier.
And before his voice could even try to twist my heart again _
I hung up.